How many of our mornings are a race against the clock, supplying barely enough time to wolf down a few bites of breakfast, if we’re lucky, before getting caught up in the commotion of the day? On those cherished days that we actually can steal away an hour to go out for breakfast, then, we should accept nothing less than the best. From spiced-up omelets to colossal pancakes, here is a list of breakfast dishes so satisfying they implore you to slow down and savor each and every bite.
Witch Doctor
Dehn’s Country Manor
Apparently, they like to start off the morning with a bang at Dehn’s County Manor. One of the house signatures, the Witch Doctor is a fiery scramble of farm fresh eggs, fresh cut habanero chilies, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, onion and green bell peppers, topped with a “spell” of hollandaise and served with toast and hash browns ($8.95). The breakfast burrito, though slightly less incendiary, has still got a kick. It’s made with scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheddar cheese, potato and sour cream, smothered in a fresh, house-made salsa ($8.50). For tamer palates, there’s the prime rib hash, made with roast prime rib, potatoes, scallions and country seasonings ($8.95). Breakfast runs on the weekends only, beginning at 9 a.m. Buttermilk pancakes are made from scratch, and the omelets are prepared in a fluffy French style. Breakfast basics aren’t overlooked, with a large selection of two-egg, choice of meat, potato and toast options. 11281 Fernbrook Lane N., Dayton; 763.420.6460
Breakfast Sandwich
After closing for a few months late last year, Henry’s Café is back in business, with a hearty breakfast sandwich that fills you up and goes easy on your pocketbook. It’s served on homemade bread, with American and Swiss cheese, fried egg and your choice of ham, bacon or sausage. It’s $4.99 for the sandwich only or $6.99 with your choice of hash browns or American fries. Another down-home favorite is the biscuits and gravy, served with two eggs ($6.59) and with hash browns or American fries ($7.99), then soaked with peppery country gravy. Owner Henry Lange also puts daily specials up on the board, and jokingly refers to one of the regular players – two scrambled eggs, hash browns, ham and cheese, with one biscuit and gravy – as “heart attack on a plate” ($9.25). The café starts serving up breakfast at 7 a.m. daily (except on Mondays, when it’s closed all day) and makes caramel and cinnamon rolls from scratch. 9691 63rd Ave. N., Maple Grove; 763.533.2304; henryscafe.net
Gyro Hash
When the owners thought to themselves a couple years back, “We’re a Greek restaurant, why not do a gyro hash?” it was a fortuitous moment for Olympia Café. The breakfast dish has been a customer favorite ever since, served with gyro meat prepared from an old family recipe, with two eggs on top, hash browns or American fries, and your choice of toast or pancakes ($8.25). The cinnamon roll French toast is also something to write home about, with cut-up cinnamon rolls that are doused in an egg batter, fried up and served with bacon, sausage or ham ($6.50). Breakfast is served all day until close, and daily specials include items like a Greek spinach omelet, corned beef hash and breakfast skillets. 247 Central Ave., Osseo; 763.424.3935; olympiacafeandgyros.com
Dutch Baby
If you’re crazy about pancakes, then you can’t go another day without adding Original Pancake House to your repertoire. The Dutch baby is one of the house specialties, a German-style, oven-baked pancake dusted with powdered sugar and served with lemon wedges and maple syrup ($9.25). The apple pancake is baked in the same style, with a cinnamon glaze and apples spread over the top ($10.25). These airy, soufflé-like pancakes come out of the oven 4 – 5 inches tall and drop down as they cool, with an eggier texture than traditional buttermilk pancakes. The omelets here are 4-egg, soufflé style, round and thick, so if you’re not in the mood for pancakes, go for the Santa Fe made with fresh pico de gallo and pepper jack cheese. Breakfast is served all day until the 3 p.m. closing time. 6322 Vinewood Ln., Maple Grove; 763.383.0888
Peruanita
Kopper Kettle
Owner Ivan Aguero serves up a taste of his native Peru with the Peruanita omelet at Kopper Kettle. It’s just a little bit spicy, made with Peruvian sausage, Swiss cheese and fried onion, accompanied by homemade American fries or hash browns ($7.75). The super kettle omelet is also a mainstay, with onion, green pepper, ham, bacon, tomato, mushrooms and cheese, and topped with hollandaise ($8.75). Classic breakfast dishes make up the rest of the menu, like country fried steak, eggs Benedict, pancakes, and eggs any style with choice of breakfast meat. Breakfast is served every day starting at 5:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. on Sunday), and the daily specials are worth a look—like the fiesta hash browns with cheese, taco meat, onion, green pepper, two eggs and toast, a frequent stand-in on the specials board. 225 Central Ave., Osseo; 763.425.6900
Perfect Pancakes
You might wonder why a restaurant would offer the option of just one homemade cake. But when the pancakes are of jaw-dropping proportions, like they are at Lynde’s Restaurant, it becomes clear. The buttermilk batter is made from scratch with a hint of vanilla then griddle-fried ($6.25 for a stack of three, $3.25 for one cake). If it kills you to make the choice between savory and sweet, try Kalista’s Platter (named after the owners’ daughter’s favorite breakfast), with one cake, one egg and bacon or sausage ($5.25). Skillets are also a breakfast frontrunner, starting with a pound of potatoes, and fillings like ham and cheese or bacon and pepper jack. Breakfast is served daily, from bright and early at 5 a.m. (7 a.m. on Friday and Saturday) until 2 p.m. But on Sundays, there’s a veritable windfall of hungry breakfast eaters, when up to 600 guests get served. 209 County Rd. 81, Osseo; 763.424.7696
Breakfast Tostada
When a taste for something a little more lavish trumps greasy spoon, make it one of the creative breakfast items at 3 Squares. The breakfast tostada keeps things vibrant with crispy tortilla, chorizo, goat cheese, black bean salsa, pico de gallo, scrambled eggs and fresh cilantro ($10). The classic French toast, served plain or with strawberries or blueberries and freshly whipped cream, will have any sweet tooth swooning. And the breakfast burrito can be made vegetarian or with pulled pork, served with hash browns and eggs ($12). Most breakfast items are served all day from 7 a.m. daily, and mimosas and bloody mary’s are served at happy hour prices. 12690 Arbor Lakes Pkwy., Maple Grove; 763.425.3330
Granny’s Omelette
Granny’s Omelette
No doubt you’ve heard of the Perkins’ classic Granny’s Omelette, filled with diced ham, American cheese, celery, green peppers, onions, cheese sauce and hash browns folded into the omelet ($9.19). The buttermilk pancakes are also famous, sold in sets of three ($4.99) or five ($5.99), or as a side option with almost any of the other breakfast dishes ($1.69). Breakfast runs round the clock, and reduced price breakfast specials are offered Monday through Friday from 6 – 11 a.m. 11801 73rd Ave. N., Maple Grove; 763.424.2020
